Alan Dershowitz Delivers Commencement
Address The Class of 2001 celebrated Cardozo’s 23rd commencement in Avery Fisher
Hall of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Alan Dershowitz, Felix Frankfurter
Professor at Harvard Law School, delivered the keynote address, urging
graduates to be wary of the treacherous ethical conflicts they will face
as lawyers. He asked them to deliberately choose a moral system for guidance.
A festive mood prevailed as 298 men and women received J.D. degrees and
46 received LL.M. degrees.
Many students were honored for distinction in academics and contributions
to journals, the community, and various fields of law.
Jocelyn Laura Santo, who was the only member of the class to graduate
summa cum laude, received the Louis D. Brandeis Award for best academic
record over three years; LL.M. graduate Andreas Karl Aschenbrenner received
the Louis Henkin Award, also for superior scholarship. Melissa M. Mathis
was given the Felix Frankfurter Award for outstanding academic maturity,
responsibility, diligence, and judgment; the Samuel Belkin Award for scholastic
achievement coupled with exceptional contributions to the Law School was
given to Alan Gotthelf.
Several professors were honored as well. The Law School gave Dean Stewart
Sterk the Monrad G. Paulsen Award for devoted service to the vitality, ideals,
and purposes of legal education. Each year, the graduates select their
favorite members of the faculty and administration. Andrew Leftt, SBA president,
presented the awards to this year’s winners: Larry Cunningham ’88, Eva Hanks,
and Gary Galperin ’80, adjunct professor. Lynn Wishart was recognized for
the most outstanding assistance to students. The Anita Walton Award for
best administrator was given to Isabel Balson, registrar.

Andrew Leftt, SBA president, presented the faculty awards:

Larry Cunningham,
Best Professor

Eva Hanks,
Best First-Year Professor

Gary Galperin,
Best Adjunct Professor

Cardozo Chairman
Earle I. Mack

Student speaker Scott
McCoy

YU President Norman Lamm

Jocelyn Laura Santo received
the Louis D. Brandeis Award

Alan Gotthelf, Samuel
Belkin Award winner, and Adam Grant, SBA leader

Annita Swait, LL.M. graduate

Michael Turner and
Vivian Walton

Mark Mukasey ’93 hoods
Beth From

NYU President Jay Oliva
hoods
Daniel Regan

Jennifer Deitch and Robert
Davis

Alumni Featured in New York Law Journal Proud to Practice Personal Injury Law
People always told Chuck Silverstein ’84 he would be a good lawyer.
It appears that after 17 years of practice he has proved them right. A former
musician and bartender, Chuck is now a successful medical malpractice plaintiff’s
attorney, with more than a dozen seven-figure settlements and verdicts under
his belt. He obtained his first part-time job during law school through
the placement office, and after graduation joined the law firm of Kramer
Dillof Tessel Duffy and Moore, where he became known for such stunts as
bringing a piano into a courtroom. Today, after 11 years as a solo practitioner,
Chuck has the luxury of choosing his cases carefully, accepting only a few
per year.
How does Chuck Silverstein select a case? He says it has to be something
significant, either in magnitude, in a point of law, or where some injustice
clearly has been done. Chuck has represented some unlikely clients including
a heroin abuser and a man who lost his winning lottery ticket, as well as
other newsworthy cases that appeared on the cover of the New York Law Journal.
Chuck thinks about the negative public image of personal injury attorneys
every day. He found that the best response is to establish yourself as a
credible attorney and to not accept frivolous cases. Chuck is clearly proud
of the practice he’s built, and proud to know that some of his cases have
been used as examples at seminars discussing issues such as how to handle
liens and the use of expert witnesses. After years of solo practice, Chuck
will soon have a partner, Michael Bast, who has been working with him for
about seven years.
Chuck reminisces about Cardozo, particularly with regard to his number
one status at the old pinball machine and number two status in Ms. Pac Man.
He also remembers well a number of faculty members, including Professors
Jacobson, Shupack, and Zelinksy. Chuck is a regular participant in Cardozo’s
ITAP program.

Civil Divorce Drives a Wedge for Client’s Get
The world of matrimonial law is anything but routine to Jay Butterman
’89, a veteran of numerous controversial cases. Jay, along with his partner
and fellow Cardozo graduate Deborah Kahn ’83, recently won Gindy v. Gindy,
in which a Brooklyn judge ruled that a husband who refused to give his
wife a Jewish religious divorce (Get) must provide lifetime support for
his ex-wife. The decision, reported on the front page of the New York Law
Journal on May 3, has a significant impact on the Orthodox Jewish community.
Mr. Gindy will have to provide permanent maintenance payments to his ex-wife
despite their short, childless marriage based on the fact that as a member
of the Syrian Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn, she would never be
able to remarry within her community without the Get. Jay hopes that this
ruling will help Mrs. Gindy to obtain the Get, since her getting married
again is the only way to end the husband’s obligations.
Jay has had other newsworthy cases recently, including an important
ruling from the New York Court of Appeals involving the rights of children
born out of wedlock, which was reported a day later in the May 4 New York
Law Journal. The law firm Butterman, Kahn & Gardner LLP, which Jay founded
in 1991, also handles entertainment law, real estate, general litigation,
and business law and has received the highest rating in Martindale-Hubble.
Jay “really liked law school” and acknowledges Cardozo’s “extraordinary faculty,”
especially family law professor Bob Dobvish.

Alumni Team Scores Consumer Victory(From left) Ron Geffner ’91, Martin Stankiewicz ’00, Dennis
Hirsch ’97, and Jeffrey Goldberg ’95, all of Sadis & Goldberg. Soon after Jeffrey C. Goldberg ’95 joined forces with
solo practitioner Jack Sadis to form Sadis & Goldberg LLC, they extended
partnerships to Cardozo graduate Ron Geffner ’91 and attorney Douglas Hirsch.
Together, they have built a thriving general practice in midtown Manhattan.
The full-service law firm recently hired two associates who also are Cardozo
graduates: Dennis Hirsch ’97 and Martin Stankiewicz ’00. Ron attributes
the firm’s success in part to the Cardozo team who “because of the education
they received at Cardozo are, by and large, entreprenurial and think outside
the box.” Sadis & Goldberg’s court victories were featured on the front
page of the New York Law Journal twice; both articles highlighted the firm’s
litigation department and its zealous advocacy and victories in the area
of consumer warranty law. Alumni Admitted to Supreme Court
and Attend a D.C. Reception
On March 27, a group of alumni were admitted to the United States Supreme
Court and then enjoyed a session of oral arguments where they could observe
the nine justices in action. Prof. Michael Herz, a former Supreme Court
clerk, made the motion for the group and shared some inside information about
the Supreme Court at a breakfast that morning. Admitted alumni were (from
left above) David Baskind ’96, Leslie Berman ’93, Stephanie Gayden ’93, Averlyn
Archer ’93, Susan John ’93, Daniel Bernstein ’96, and Wayne Halper ’79 (not
pictured). The evening before the swearing-in, faculty and staff met with alumni
at a reception at the law firm of Crowell & Moring, thanks to partner
Cliff Elgarten ’79, who is pictured here (center) with Paul Epstein ’85
(left) and Dean Stewart Sterk. Next year, there will be a reception for D.C.
metro alumni on March 19, 2002, followed the next day by a Supreme Court
Admission. To be placed on the mailing list for either event, please contact
Barbara Birch in the Office of Alumni Affairs at 212-790-0293, or by e-mail
at birch@ymail.yu.edu. Space is very limited.

First Class of Heyman Scholars Graduate Prof. Larry Cunningham, the first graduating class of Heyman Scholars,
and current Heyman Scholars celebrated at a cocktail party held at Alger
House in Greenwich Village. In a setting of Persian rugs and stained glass
windows, some 60 guests toasted Ronnie and Samuel Heyman for their support
of The Heyman Scholars Program, which provides outstanding students interested
in corporate law with financial aid and academic and practical opportunities
in the field of corporate governance.

Grad Leads the Way to CLE On-Line Nathaniel Ginor ’00 is a member of the management team at the e-learning
company LawyersEd (www.LawyersEd.com), the largest provider of online continuing
legal education. “The LawyersEd goal is to allow lawyers to receive CLE
credit at a time that’s convenient, in a subject that’s relevant, while
saving time and money,” says Nathaniel. Seminar offerings include traditional
selections such as “Jury Selection Techniques” and “Revised UCC Article
9,” and more current topics such as “Discovery and Disclosure of Electronic
Mail in Federal Court,” by Cardozo’s own Prof. Charles Yablon. Seminars
have been led by other Cardozo faculty members, including Stewart Sterk,
Kyron Huigens, David Carlson, Myriam Gilles, Marci Hamilton, and Melanie
Leslie.

BALLSA Reunion Dinner Alumni returned to the Law School for a special dinner hosted by BALLSA,
at which Loretta Lynch, United States Attorney, Eastern District of New York,
was the featured speaker. (From left) Amy Vargas ’02, Noel Williams ’87,
Arthur Rojas ’93, Andrew Leftt ’01, Adekunle Bankole ’01, Prof. Miriam Gilles,
Vivian Walton ’01, and Prof. El Gates.

Alumni Association Welcomes Graduating Students(From left) Colleen Samuels ’00, Jason Goldy ’00, Elana Waksal
Posner ’97, Robert Wallack ’99, Tricia Pantzer ’98, Fay Leoussis ’79, Melissa
Breitbart Sohn ’98, Josh Sohn ’97, and Vivien Naim ’87. On April 25, the Alumni Association welcomed third-year
students to the Association with a party that included alumni speakers offering
advice about life after law school. Panelists were Jason Goldy ’00, associate
at Weil Gotshal & Manges; Fay Leoussis ’79, chief of the tort division,
Corporation Counsel for the City of New York; Elana Waksal Posner ’97, cofounder
of iBeauty.com and attorney; and Robert Wallack ’99, Manhattan assistant district
attorney. Other alumni were on hand to mingle with students.

Reunion Celebration
The Bear Ballroom at the Russian Tea Room was a glorious setting for the
graduates of the Classes of 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, and
1996, who celebrated their reunions on June 7. More than 300 alumni reminisced
with classmates, faculty, and administrators while enjoying some Russian-style
delicacies. Members of the reunion committee helped ensure the event’s success.

Alumni Support Capital Campaign with $100,000
Pledges Stephen A. Weiss ’90 and Cardozo Board member Eric M. Javits launched
two prestigious giving societies in October at a well-attended cocktail
party hosted by Samuel and Ronnie Heyman and featuring a talk by Prof. Richard
Weisberg. Graduates who pledge gifts of $100,000 payable within five years
are invited to join The Jacob Burns Pillars of Justice Society, named for
Cardozo’s late chairman of the board. Mr. Weiss and his wife, Debra Weiss
’90, were the first to step forward. Others include James Schwalbe ’93, Evan
Berger ’92, and Jonathan Kukin ’87, who made an additional pledge to support
the Kukin Center for Conflict Resolution.
The Scales of Justice Society is designed for those who want to make
a $100,000 gift but desire a more flexible time span to pay it. Mitchel
A. Maidman ’88 and Adam S. Gottbetter ’92 are the first alumni to join this
important initiative. (For more information on joining either giving society,
please call Debbie Niederhoffer, Director of Development, at 212-790-0288.)

3L Challenge Looks to the Future The 3L Challenge, inaugurated last year, is a class giving program
in which students show their intent to become active alumni by making multiyear
pledges to Cardozo. This year, students chose to designate the gift for
a broad spectrum of programs, including the library, loan repayment program,
Public Interest Summer Stipend, and the Online Journal of Conflict Resolution.
The committee, spearheaded by Peggy Sweeney ’01, includes members of the
class of ’01: Catherine Alin, Reuven Falik, Ryon Fleming, Sara Gershuni,
Melanie Hayes, Kevin Heller, Rachel Hirschfeld, Alexandra Hochman, Sharon
Beth Kristal, Simmi Prasad, Dennis Rimkunas, Lisa Tuntigian, and Rob Zanetti;
Class of ’02: Cynthia Devasia, Rachel Posner, and Melissa Stewart; and from
the Class of ’03: Deborah Ginsberg and Brian Kidd, and LL.M. candidates Shakeel
Ahmad and Pilar Toro ’02.

As Cardozo Likes It In February, alumni and friends attended Shakespeare’s As You Like
It at the Storm Theatre. The 50-plus attendees filled the small Off-Broadway
theater, making it truly a Cardozo event. After the performance, guests
attended a wine and cheese reception with the cast. Lawrence Klein ’94 is
shown here with Jennifer Piech, who starred in the show and was previously
on Broadway in Titanic.

Cardozo Gains CLE Provider StatusA record number of alumni came back to Cardozo to obtain some needed
continuing legal education credits; they found themselves experiencing nostalgia
as they sat in a classroom to learn once again about New York Civil Procedure
from Prof. Burt Lipshie. For the 100-plus attorneys, the event also turned
into a minireunion. Now that Cardozo has been approved as a New York State
CLE provider, many more programs will be offered by the Law School and the
Alumni Association. The next event will be an ethics course taught in the
fall.

David Berg Foundation Supports Public Interest The newly established David Berg Foundation made a grant of $50,000
to support public interest stipends for Cardozo students. Twenty students
have been named David Berg Fellows in Public Interest Law for 2001 and
received $2,000 to $3,200, enabling them to take unpaid summer positions.
They worked at such organizations as Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, US
Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Asian Pacific American
Legal Center, South Brooklyn Legal Services Foreclosure Prevention Project,
Cardozo’s Innocence Project, the Legal Aid Society, and South Brooklyn Legal
Services.
The late David Berg served on Cardozo’s Board for 10 years beginning
in the early 1980s. During his lifetime Mr. Berg supported numerous educational,
cultural, and social nonprofit organizations. The Foundation continues his
legacy.

Parents Attend BrunchJeffrey and Arlene Cohan with their daughters, Stacey ’02
and Joanna ’04
The first annual Cardozo Parents Day for all J.D. and LL.M. students
and their families was held on a snowy January day. After a champagne brunch,
guests toured the building and heard about plans for upgrading facilities
and then attended miniclasses taught by members of the faculty.

Attention Classes of 1982, 1987, and 1992! Committees are now forming to help organize your class reunions. Get
involved and ensure a successful event for your class. Call 212-790-0293
to join (small time commitment).